NDDC MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS

 NIGER DELTA WOMEN IN DIALOGUE CALLS FOR AN OVERHAULING OF NDDC TO MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE REGION 

Warri -

Worried by the embezzlement in the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, some women under the auspice of Niger Delta Women In Dialogue on Friday staged a peaceful protest to NDDC Delta State office in Warri to express their demands for positive changes in the state. 

A co convener of the women protest, Madam Mary Fuludu said that NDDC which was established in 2000 has not lived up to its purpose of creation as the region is still underdeveloped in spite of the crude oil and gas deposit in the region.

The women which were under the aegis of Niger Delta Women In Dialogue in the morning of on Friday stormed the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Delta State Office in Warri carrying placards with different inscriptions to drum their messages to the Federal Government and all relevant authorities. 

Madam Mary Fuludu who spoke on behalf of the protesting women, said that it is quite disheartening to see the level of corruption in NDDC that was established to address the developmental needs of the Niger Delta Region which is the main stay of the nation's economy. 

Madam Mary Fuludu added that President Muhammadu Buhari administration needs to address the corruption that had eaten deep into NDDC by ensuring that those that have looted funds from the commission are made to pay as well as being prosecuted. 

She emphasized that NDDC no longer attend to women and youth empowerment, infrastructural projects, regular payments of scholarships stipend to NDDC overseas students, amongst others developmental needs of the region. 

Speaking in a similar vein, one of the protesting women, Ambassador Florence Adia called for a total overhauling of the current NDDC board with a view to repositioning the commission to living up to its purpose of establishment. 

She stressed that the mismanagement of funds in NDDC has led to massive under development in the region as well as improvising the Niger Delta people. 

The Deputy Director NDDC Delta State Office, Mr Stephen Ogheneare who addressed the women commended them for their peaceful disposition during the protest. 

He however asked them to address their demands to the NDDC head office in Port Harcourt. 

No doubt the issue of corruption in the NDDC of late has been on the front burner and it is the wish of all Niger Deltans that NDDC is repositioned to meet the needs of its creation in 2000 by former President Olosegun Obansajor. 

Non Governmental Organization that participated in the peaceful protest are the Morgan Smart Development Foundation, South South Professional Women Association, Niger Delta Women Forum, Center for Environmental Peace and Justice, Amazon Foundation, Development Initiative for Community Impact, Women Standard Bearers International and Lizdon Foundation.